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The ink was barely dry on Kenny Miller’s Partick Thistle release papers when the jokes about a return to Rangers for a FOURTH spell started.

As soon as news of the veteran striker’s Firhill departure was announced, a section of the Ibrox support claimed in jest that he would become Steven Gerrard’s first January signing.

It’s a standing joke yet for some it isn’t such a ridiculous prospect, with Miller scoring 10 goals in half a season with the Championship strugglers.

Alfredo Morelos is still suspended and Gerrard could do with a third-choice striker. Morelos’ back-up frontman Jermain Defoe could even lean on 40-year-old Miller!

The former Scotland striker is still keen on extending his playing career but the Ibrox legions who refuse even to contemplate the thought of him pulling on the light blue jersey again reckon Cove Rangers is a more realistic destination.

(Image: Rangers/PA)

When it comes to Rangers fans, rarely has a player divided opinion so much as Miller due to the season spent at Celtic and the manner of his last Ibrox exit.

But even if being part of Gerrard’s squad for the second half of the season might seem far-fetched then maybe a return to the Hummel Training Centre in some capacity isn’t.

Gerrard hasn’t hidden his admiration for Miller, praising the character and mentality of a player who won seven trophies, including three titles in a row, in his time at Ibrox.

Speaking of the surgery he needed to perform on his squad when he arrived, the former Liverpool captain said: “The team needed a spine, a lot of change, it needed big players who weren’t scared of the big occasion. It had some and it had a few that were coming to the end that I wished were 10 years younger, like your Kenny Millers.”

That type of mentality and experience could be useful around the Hummell Training Centre, with Nathan Patterson and Kai Kennedy the latest two youngsters to make their first-team debuts.

Former Gers stars Peter Lovenkrands and Kevin Thomson have already made a big impact as coaches along with Brian Gilmour, albeit he never played for the first team.

The next generation of stars couldn’t fail to learn from the experience of Miller who made the absolute most of his talent with a winning mentality that probably proved his downfall at times.]

(Image: SNS Group)

That attitude played a role in his exit from Ibrox and the fact Graeme Murty still holds a key position in the youth department could be a big hurdle to Miller’s return.

The striker’s third spell at Ibrox came to a controversial end after that infamous Old Firm Scottish Cup semi in 2018 and the alleged post-match rammy that followed the 4-0 defeat.

Miller and Lee Wallace were fined and suspended by the club for a rumoured bust-up with caretaker boss Murty, although the duo later won an SPFL appeal over the club’s punishment.

It still isn’t clear what Miller and Wallace did wrong that day with mixed reports over how much the pair stepped out of line, if at all.

But three years prior to that controversy, Miller started taking his first steps towards a career on the other side of the white line by joining the Under-20 coaching staff, then headed by Ian Durrant.

He wasn’t ready to make that move on a permanent basis back then but admitted: “I am looking to get involved in coaching further down the line. The good thing has been that I’ve been able to do a bit with Durranty with the Under-20s over the last couple of months.

“It’s obviously a step I want to make in a few years’ time – not just quite yet!”